Allen Homers-for Old Times` Sake

July 10, 1990|By Bill Jauss.

With one swing of his mighty 40-ounce bat and a few cogent, well-chosen words, Dick Allen buried a widespread myth.

The myth says former baseball stars, guys nearing or past 50, should not gather and play in old-timers` games. Let the fans remember them as they were, goes the myth. Don`t reveal how time has eroded the wondrous skills.

Allen, 48, demolished that theory when he jerked a pitch from Fergie Jenkins into the left-field bleachers for a three-run, first-inning homer that keyed a 10-0 American League victory over the Nationals Monday in the Equitable Old-Timers game at Wrigley Field.

In the six-run second inning, Allen stroked what Hall-of-Famer and public-address announcer Jack Brickhouse described as ``the longest single in Wrigley Field history.``

It cleared Billy Williams` head in left, landed at the wall, and drove home Allen`s fourth and fifth runs.

The hit remained a single because Allen jogged to first and remained there, perhaps to chat with Steve Garvey.

As the 38,923 fans were leaving the park, Allen explained the real essence of an old-timers` game.

``The money`s in it (baseball) now,`` Allen said, ``but I`d rather be playing with these guys in here.``

Allen gestured toward former superstars older than he and not nearly as fit.

``There is so much baseball in their minds,`` said Allen. ``So much baseball in their hearts and souls . . . ``

The former White Sox slugger said his best times in baseball occurred in Chicago, ``the one place where I was treated like a big-leaguer.``

Allen received a big salute, from National League rivals as well as fans, when he rounded the bases. He shook hands wih Bill Mazeroski as he rounded second, yelled something to Ernie Banks at short and shook hands with Ron Santo as he reached third.

``I never made a move for the ball,`` said left-fielder Williams, who homered in a similar pre-All-Star Game in Comiskey Park in 1983. ``I`ve heard that sound before.``

Allen wisecracked about there being no numbers on the back of his jersey or that of center-fielder Bobby Bonds and about whether a great hitter ever really ``loses`` his stroke.

``Bobby and I had no numbers,`` Allen said. ``because they fingerprinted us. Oh, I`ve lost my stroke. That`s why I`m in here playing with these guys.`` Until Allen captivated the big crowd of predominantly Cub fans, Brickhouse`s introductions of the four Cub starters in the NL lineup-Jenkins, Williams, Banks and Santo-were the highlights of the day.

Brickhouse needed to utter only a few words of each lengthy intro before the crowd drowned him out with a standing ovation.

If a secret ballot had been held, Banks might have been runner-up to Allen as MVP for the American League. Ernie was charged with no errors on four grounders he waved at without touching.